Repairer and Restorer

[S] Isaiah 58:12 --
12"Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

[O] God gives second chances to me and I should also carry on that same spirit of rebuilding broken lives starting with my own.  I need to raise up the age-old foundations to repair and restore them in the image of God.

[A] I need to make the foundation of my life to carry out the spirit of God, one of which is the spirit of restoration in the midst of brokenness.  He has mended and restored my broken life (in many ways still broken but He's not done with me) and that's what I need to pass on to others around me.  God has been nudging my heart to begin such a ministry to those near my life.  I need to seek His guidance for clarity and for like-minded co-workers to carry that out.

[P] Dear Father, please show me the way clearly by sending those who has been dreaming the same dream.  Please allow me to repair and restore what has been breached in people's lives.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Unnecessary Question

[S] John 18:4 --
4  So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"

[O] What doesn't our Lord Jesus Christ know?  He knows everything and that's why He came to earth and went through the path He chose to walk.  It's almost like walking into a trap well-knowing it is there -- and it was done because there was a clear purpose He wanted to bring forth.  That's where the power of love and sacrifice lies that I desire to cling on to.  Furthermore, this is where God of the second chances reaches out to me again and again not because He is slow but because He wants to allow opportunity for me to draw closer to Him by accepting His grace.  The question He asked, "Whom do you seek?" was an unnecessary one because He knew all things anyways; in fact, this was a question of invitation into His leadership.

[A] The moment I think Jesus doesn't know all of my thoughts, I'm in trouble.  I need to work every moment to make my life transparent before God and others so that when He invites me into a question of "Whom do you seek?" I would fall on my knees in humility to say, "I seek You to be the guide of my life."

[P] Dear Jesus, please come into my heart and lead me every moment so that I will be fully under Your leadership of my life because You already know all things about me to guide my life for a clear purpose.  In Your name.  Amen.

Just Give Me One Just Person

[S] Jeremiah 5:1 --
1 "Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem,
And look now and take note.
And seek in her open squares,
If you can find a man,
If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth,
Then I will pardon her.

[O] On one hand, it's pathetic for Jerusalem to not find a single person who is just and truthful.  On the other hand, God only needs one just person to pardon (i.e., save) the whole nation.  He is also searching for such a person thoroughly which really means that such a person will be very easily identified because s/he will be near God at all times anyways according to John 12:26 -- "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him."

[A] Not to be a hero or anything, but I really want to be walking closer to Jesus every day, and to be recognized by God as the just and truthful one to follow after His heart.

[P] Dear Father, I praise for the second chance You provide for us at all times as long as our hearts are set towards You.  In this world where right seems wrong and wrong seems right, please set my heart for You so my life would be a pleasing site to You. In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Question of Second Chances

[S] Genesis 4:9-10 --
 ⁹Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
 ¹⁰He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground. 

[O] In Genesis 3:11, God asked Adam and Eve the question which He already knew the answer to; and here He does the same thing to Abel.  I see the love and grace of God in these two questions because He gives a second chance cross generation.  He gives a chance for us to answer Him honestly but in both counts the man failed; and yet His love for us continues on even though we had to pay for the consequences.  God does know everything about us and yet we conveniently forget about that thinking we can get away from Him through our own cunning ways.  How foolish we are and how weak we are.

[A] Next opportunity when God asks me a question which demands my honest reply, be honest!

[P] Thank You, God, for being the God of second chances!  I'm growing in You because of Your second chances in my life.  I would also like to be gracious to others as You have taught me and I can only do this through Your total leadership in my life.  Please continue to embed Your wonderful grace in my life.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.